PhD in Mass Communication

Philosophy and Objectives:

Continuous development of advanced communication technology in the past decade has resulted in not only rapid and complex economic, political, social and environmental changes, but also wide-ranging and borderless development of mass communication system at national, international and global level. This rapid development leads to academic and professional necessity to search for new modern knowledge in order to respond to needs for development by individuals as major resource for national development process and by organizations as sources of activities that promote systematic development. In addition, rapid increase of graduates and professional people in journalism and mass communication as compared to the past has become a current trend, while education institutes that offer courses at doctoral level are still limited

Communication Research 3

MCO 815 — Seminar in Qualitative Methods and Applications in — 3

Special Selected Subjects

Students need to choose 3 courses with 9 credits from each of the course group.

(1) International Communication

(2) Political Communication

(3) Special Selected Topics in Communication

Free Elective Subjects

Students must select one course with code number no less than 700 from courses opened within or outside of the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication both ordinary and special course as approved by the tutor.

MCO 899 — Thesis — 6

Year 1 Semester 1

MCO ..... Free Elective Courses 3

Year 1 Semester 2

MCO ..... Special Selected Subject 1 or Special

Selected Subject of student’s interest 3

Year 1 Summer Semester

MCO ..... Special Selected Subject 2 or Special Selected Subject

of student’s interest 3

Year 2 Semester 1

MCO 815 — Seminar in Qualitative Methods and Applications in —

MCO ..... Special Selected Subject 3 or Special Selected Subject

Year 2 Semester 2

MCO 899 — Thesis — 3

Year 2 Summer Semester

Year 3 Semester 1

Year 3 Semester 2

MCO 899 — Thesis — 9

COURSE DESCRIPTION

MCO 700: Applied Theories of Mass Communication:

This subject studies and analyzes concepts, assumptions and theories related to communication process and changes of human behaviors from micro to macro level. At macro level, it focuses on analysis of mass communication structure and process both within and between various social systems. At micro level, it focuses on analysis of individuals’ process to communicate meanings, such as knowing and interpretation of messages, formation and changes of attitude, learning and understanding the balance of thought. This subject not only explores and analyzes findings from academic studies in communication, but also train students to have knowledge and understanding of techniques, methods and problems in the creation of social theories, so that they can apply them with communication science. Particularly, it focuses on defining concepts, definitions, assumptions, reasons and systematization of communication concepts.

MCO 711: Communication Research Method:

This subject studies methods for social research that are used to research on communication, focusing on applying quantitative methods in the analysis of communication process and effectiveness. This subject aims to provide students knowledge and capacity to come up with research questions, create assumption and theories, and determine definitions, concepts, techniques used in organizing and designing research work, random sampling, questionnaire designing, information analysis and interpretation and report writing. In addition, students will be trained on writing outline for practice methods and research outline.

MCO 801: Epistemology of Social Sciences Research:

This subject studies metaphysics, epistemology and thinking methods in science and social science that would be used as foundation of research methodologies and discovery of knowledge, including being thinker and analyst, and genuine understanding of problems in journalism and mass communication, as academic and professional, together with thorough understanding of impacts and relations of the knowledge.

MCO 811: Social System and Communication Theories:

This subject studies philosophy, history and development of journalism and mass communication education by discussing and analyzing relations with various systems in society, such as economy, politics, culture, ecology, science and technology, for example. It focuses on linking theories with real situations to make students understand and be able to systematically explain communication problems and their solutions.

MCO 812: Seminar in Journalism and Mass Communication Theory:

This subject aims to make students understand journalism and mass communication theories in-depth, so that they have knowledge and capability to analyze various levels of the theories, being able to explain and discuss them by linking social phenomenon and use them to guide research that confirms or increases new knowledge that is different from existing one or creates a theory.

MCO 813: Advanced Communication Research:

This subject studies research process and design, analyzing techniques and methods related to both quantitative and qualitative research. Students learn how to apply narrative statistics, referential statistics and high-level statistics with single variables, binary variables and multiple variables to verify assumptions of quantitative communication research and methods for making analysis and interpretation to present conclusions of knowledge from qualitative research.

MCO 814: Seminars in Quantitative Methods and Applications in Communication Research

This subject provides students opportunities to discuss and share in class their views on research process that links mass communication theories and social phenomenon that leads to solutions or knowledge, and to analyze and appraise research findings on published communication in order to use as models for inspection or criticizing.

MCO 815: Seminar in Qualitative Methods and Applications in Communication Research

This subject provides students knowledge about technical analysis and methods for qualitative research, focusing on giving them in-depth understanding and enabling them to use research methodologies to define problems and thought process to look for new knowledge in journalism and mass communication, and to analyze and appraise research findings on published communication in order to use as models for inspection or criticizing.

Special Selected Subjects

MCO 821: Comparative Analyses on International Media Systems

This subject comparatively analyzes philosophy, theories, concepts, structures, systems and operation of mass media inside and outside of the country in details by explaining factors and limitations of these systems that have effects on policy that controls mass media system and other related problems and issues.

MCO 822: Media Technologies and International Communication

This subject studies historical background and development of modern communication technology, techniques, methods and management that are applied in international mass communication systems and international communication organizations.

MCO 823: Seminar on Globalization and International Communication

This subject studies globalization, focusing on problems that are related to international communication that cause social and cultural changes, including impacts towards global free market and deregulation in the Third World countries, and communication ethics and business at global level.

MCO 831: Communication and Political Thoughts

This subject studies political philosophy, theories and concepts, evolution and structures in Thailand and other countries, including background and feedback from the mass media in order to analyze relations and influences between political process and mass media process.

MCO 832: Communications and Political Campaign

This subject studies communication process and tactics that are used in political campaign, such as political public relations and election advertisement, for instance, with focus on analysis of content, management and assessment of popular campaign, including public census.

MCO 833: Seminar in West African Political Communication

These subject studies problems related to political communication through discussion and analysis to find causes, factors, limitations, impacts, and mass media’s role and dictation of political contents, including research and application, for development of political communication.

MCO 886: Special Selected Topic 1 3 Credits

MCO 887: Special Selected Topic 2 3 Credits

MCO 888: Special Selected Topic 3 3 Credits

This subjects study particular topics related to communication, that are in the interest of and planned together by the student, course supervisor and advisory committee appointed by the Ph.D. Program Director, particularly those consistent with the dissertation, with focus on in-depth research and development of a body of knowledge, guidelines and solutions to problems on journalism and mass communication, academically and professionally.

MCO 899: Thesis

Students must write a thesis on a topic that creates a body of knowledge on journalism and mass communication through in-depth research process.